In a world full of confusion, brokenness, and a desperate search for meaning, how can we truly connect with God? How can we live happy, fulfilling lives and help others do the same? These aren’t just big questions—they’re challenges that impact every part of our lives.

I graduated from Calvin Seminary in 1987, learning about theology—basically, the study of Christian religion. I was also taught to look at social sciences, like psychology and sociology, for insights into mental health, education, relationships, well-being, and human behavior. These fields offered ideas on how to help people with mental health issues, improve education, understand behavior, and promote overall well-being. What I found surprising was that many of these helpful ideas were already in the Bible.

When the Christian Leaders Institute started in 2006, we focused on teaching traditional seminary topics like Bible studies and theology. Our goal was to provide free ministry training online to anyone who wanted to learn. By 2013, we realized the Bible is like a Christian social sciences book, offering hope and guidance from God, who created everything and brought redemption to humanity. By 2014, we began the Christian Leaders Alliance to certify volunteers, part-time, and full-time ministers who studied biblical, theological, and ministry topics to share this hope with others.

The early church offered social services that included God. Early Christian leaders were called, trained, ordained and sent to launch Christianity and provide a hope-filled approach to social sciences based on God’s design and redemption. Over time, the church’s focus shifted more exclusively towards theology and the state of the soul’s relationship with God. Doctrines and confessions took center stage, and the focus on thriving in this life faded somewhat.

The fact is that Christianity does not only focus on our hope for the afterlife; it also focuses on thriving in the life God has given us now. It’s time to renew the study of Christian social sciences, but we’ll call it “Ministry Sciences.”

Today, secular social sciences often leave out God, creating boundaries that shut Him out. Modern, postmodern, and now metamodern approaches all do this in different ways. This exclusion affects how we understand ourselves and the world around us.

For many years, Christian leaders respected modern social sciences because they recognized universal truths that aligned with the Bible. However, postmodernism took a more aggressive stance, excluding God entirely from any narrative or design for redemption and new life. They view God as an oppressor to resist, believing nothing is real and everything is just appearance—a dangerous path leading to philosophical “positivism” and “unreality.”

Metamodernism is a new cultural trend that swings between modern optimism and postmodern skepticism. While it tries to combine the best of both, it still sidelines God. This double-minded approach leaves a void, promising a world that’s both real and unreal. It’s a reckless belief system, and it’s surprising that the academic community doesn’t challenge it more.

We don’t want to live separated from the God who made us. That’s too limited a story. We want our Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit in our lives. We recognize our broken relationship with God, as stated in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (WEB). We are redeemed in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Life is hard, and we need God. Ministry Sciences is about welcoming God into our studies and lives and helping others do the same. We seek transformation into the image of God, as Romans 12:2 says.

Watch How Ministry Sciences is Bringing Real Impact

The Early Church Impact

Think about the early church’s impact. The spread of Christianity was essentially the spread of Christian social sciences offered freely by volunteers, part-time, and career ministers. Unlike today, where social science professionals are mostly career-oriented, making their services less accessible. The church offered its services to everyone for better human thriving. Ministry Sciences is inspired by this grassroots movement, aiming to equip and certify ministers without relying on a salary. This book embraces the early church’s mission to offer hope and healing freely to everyone.

This series is for anyone interested in exploring this. It’s not about fighting with those who exclude God—they have their boundaries. Nor is it about judging individuals who follow modern, postmodern, or metamodern doctrines that exclude God. We don’t judge. Instead, we invite you to read this book with an open mind. It’s a new story, offering transformation into the image of God.

Who Should Read This Series?

• Christians: Deepen your faith and understand God’s presence in every part of life.
• Officiants, Ministers, Coaches, and Chaplains: Get practical and theological insights to help and lead others.
• Christian Counselors and Therapists: Add a faith-based perspective to your practice for holistic support.
• The Curious: See how including God can change your understanding of the world and yourself.

Imagine a world where free ministry training and grassroots certification programs are available worldwide. Church leaders from different backgrounds can study Ministry Sciences. They’ll be cross-pollinated with Christian scholarship and training, allowing them to grow and become certified ministers of the gospel. The goal is to spread the gospel message worldwide, bringing hope to a world in despair.

We invite you to explore Ministry Sciences, where God is welcomed and celebrated. This book may help you if you want God to guide your life, witness, and ministry. Join us in this journey of transformation, rooted in God’s truth and love, and empowered to bring His hope and light to a world in need.

Discover Ministry Sciences

• Coaching Ministry Program: Learn how to become a Coaching Minister  Click here. 
• Free Anger Management Course: This popular course is accessed by people worldwide. Click Here.
• Free Better Sleeping Course:. Click Here
• Free Online Bible Course: Christian Leaders Institute offers over 150 free Biblical courses. Click Here. 
• Officiate Weddings. Click Here.
• Free People Smart Course: Take a college-level course at Christian Leaders Institute. This people-smart course will transform your life. Click Here.
• Free Course on Developing a Positive Attitude: Based on a Christian perspective, learn how to become more positive. Click Here
• Free Christian Life Skill Course: This free three-credit college course will change your life! Click Here.
• Free Romance Officiant Skills Course: This course will help you help others find love. Click Here. 
• Free Christian Marriage Course: This course will help your marriage! Click Here.
• Sex Conversation Ministers: Learn how to help married couples. Click here.